You’ve earned a B.S. in biology…now what?




















  • Dr. C’s practical career tipTM: It is never too early to start planning your future

Career services at Shepherd University

What can I do with my degree in biology?





  • There are many different career paths available in the biological sciences


  • Some of these are not obvious, but could be the most interesting and/or fulfilling to you


  • In some cases education beyond the B.S. level is required

Employment you can expect as an…



  • Career positions in biology (including salary, benefits, responsibilities) are generally commensurate with your level of experience and/or education


  • Undergraduate student: internship (paid or unpaid) working with someone else


  • B.S. or M.S. degree: technician/assistant; somewhat independent, performs key tasks within parameters set by the boss


  • Ph.D./M.D.: guides overall mission, makes decisions

“Why should I consider getting an advanced degree?”



  • Many people are tired after four years of college and don’t want more school…
    • current economic trends do play a role


  • Consider whether you might want:
    • To do advanced work in a subject
      • guide your own research/activities
    • A profession that requires specialization
      • skill set requires more advanced classes
    • A job that requires an advanced degree
      • e.g. some government positions


Where can biology take you?


  • Academic and hospital research
  • Biotechnology
  • Dentistry
  • Ecology
  • Environmental science
  • Food industries
  • Forensic science
  • Gov’t agencies (FBI, FDA, DNR, NASA, USDA)
  • Graduate school
  • Law
  • Medicine
  • Nursing
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Physical therapy
  • Physician assistant
  • Public health
  • Science writing or journalism
  • Veterinary medicine
  • Wildlife management
  • Science Communication

Biological Research


  • Being a part of a new discovery is exciting!


  • This course: give you the taste of a long-term research project


  • Research careers are possible at many levels, in many settings, and in many different capacities


  • Science has entered a new realm of BIG data
    • combining data sets to understand larger patterns


  • You might like a research career if you:
    • Enjoy problem solving
    • Working with your hands (in a lab or outside)
    • Don’t mind an unconventional schedule

Disciplines of biology-related research

Research settings


  • The setting in which research is conducted determines the questions that will be investigated


  • Each setting has advantages and disadvantages
    • Academic – small primarily undergrad institution (Shepherd)
      • Great freedom, undergrad students
      • low budget, lack of equipment
    • Academic – large research institution (WVU)
      • Great freedom, advanced equipment, graduate students
      • constant scramble for grant money
    • Industrial – biotech, pharmaceutical, agriculture (Pfizer, Monsanto)
      • Advanced equipment, staff focused on a single task
      • No freedom
    • Government (Department of Defense)
      • Some degree of freedom
      • Red tape, scramble for money

Healthcare opportunites are vast


Government careers


  • All levels of government (federal, state, local) employ biologists.
    • Environmental regulator (rivers and streams, fish and wildlife, forest management)
    • Park ranger or interpreter
    • Water quality
    • Waste management
    • County extension agent
    • Science policy
    • Food safety
    • Drug approval
    • Occupational health and safety
    • Biodefense


  • Other careers work with gov’t to further scientific goals:
    • Administrator/Researcher for a nonprofit or health group
    • Lobbyist (science, technology, and education)

Education



  • Educators teach others about biology and its impact on their lives
    • K-12 teacher
    • Technical training school teacher
    • University/college professor
    • Less formal science educator—museums, parks, internet
    • Work with publishers on science outreach materials
    • Work for nonprofit on science education outreach


  • You might like an education career if you:
    • Enjoy working with students
    • Want to help shape the next generation of scientists
    • Can communicate and present effectively

Administrative/management careers in biology



  • These positions provide support to others carrying out biological research or education
    • Professional societies
    • Grants administrator (government or nonprofit)
    • University administrator (office of research, grants, compliance, safety)
    • Project management at pharmaceutical or biotechnology company


  • You might like an administrative career if you:
    • Have strong organizational and writing skills
    • Can communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders

Scientific communication careers



  • There are many forms of scientific writing and/or editing
    • Scholarly publishing—editorial assistant
    • Technical writing
    • Marketing
    • University or professional society media relations
    • Government
    • Journalism (including the internet)
    • Scientific/medical illustration


  • You might like a writing career if you:
    • Are a strong written communicator
    • Have outstanding research or investigative skills
    • Enjoy working under deadlines

Related Industries (Biology skills are transferrable!)

For next time (bring laptop)





  • Figure out what you want to do with your life
    • Just joking



  • Come up with a list of of jobs types that interest you